Reality Tv

In the article “Getting Real With Reality TV” published in the 5th edition of Perspectives on Contemporary Issues, author Cynthia M. Frisby argues that the reason that reality TV stays so popular is because of the audiences media gratification from social comparisons in the mass media.

According to CBS, the same element of being human that encourages people to gossip about the lives of their friends, family, and even total strangers is what fosters an audience for reality television (292). However she feels that it is something else that creates a reality television audience and it is the social comparison. Frisby believes that despite the shifting desires of society and fickleness of television audience, the human need to compare and relate has provided a market for this genre (294).

One major reason that Frisby feels that reality TV stays popular to the audience is because of the benefit of media gratification from social comparison. “people may compare themselves with others in their immediate environment or in mass media in order to judge their own personal worth (293). Frisby states that individuals compare their selves for various reasons “to determine relative standing on an issue or related ability; emulate behaviors; determine norms; lift spirits or feel better about life and personal situations; and evaluate emotions, personality, and self-worth (292). There is also the upward comparison in which there is a individual who is superior to or better off another individual, but on the other hand “self improvement is the main effect of an upward comparison because the targets serve as role models, teaching and motivating individuals to achieve or overcome similar problems (292).

Frisby believes that social comparison does not mean that the individual has to give careful, elaborate, conscious thought about the comparison, but implies that there has to be, to some degree, an attempt to identify or look for similarities or differences between the other and self on some particular dimension (293). Theorist argues Frisby’s claim that “for a comparison to be considered a comparison, the individual must be aware of the comparison and come into direct contact with the other person” (293).

In Frisby’s complete a uses and gratification survey she came up with two goals in mind to show that certain television shows may cause social comparison and to show that “viewers use reality television and images as a source for social comparison” (293). After doing this research she then conducted a analysis of all the thoughts that were given while watching reality television. Frisbys final thoughts were that regular reality television viewers and non reality television viewers responses did not differ.

Frisby states “that one major effect of exposure to reality television is to feel better about ones own life circumstances, abilities, and talents” (294). Whether if the aim of the show is about love, surviving to win money, to become a singer or for other creative expressions the results of reality viewers and non viewers are all the same. Reality television viewers like the fact that they are going through the same problems and that they can compare their living experiences and also can feel at ease that they have once made the same mistakes. Frisby feels as if “through a vicarious social comparison process (294). That viewers can one day land it big like “falling in love, winning $1,000,000, or getting the office snitch fired (294).

Aaliyah Tate English 105 Ms. LoBosco Effect of Reality TV Shows on Teenage Girls The beginning of reality television started in the 1940s. Allen Funt’s Candid Camera went on air in the year 1948. Candid Camera was a hidden camera television series, which record people who are placed in embarrassing, ridiculous, and hilarious positions, and show their reactions. When people watch reality TV, they tend to think that what they are seeing is a true depiction of reality. Because of that, they tend to believe that what they see on TV is how life really is.

Many reality TV shows are created without thinking about its consequences on the mindsets of viewers, especially young viewers. Media companies accept that they make these shows for profit and they do not care about the effects on people. The target audience for most reality TV shows is teens, mostly young girls. These shows have a positive or negative effect on the many viewers and participants. Reality TV didn’t really become popular until the early 2000s. Since reality TV is becoming more popular, girls are turning to these shows for entertainment value and life lessons. There are some positive effects of watching these shows.

Girls who watch more of this genre of TV have more confidence in themselves, and also consider themselves mature, smart, funny and outgoing, and a good influence (http://technorati. com). Many viewers think that they can relate to the cast members on these shows. Girls receive inspiration and comfort from reality TV. Most teen girls are obsessed with being beautiful and getting a boyfriend. The way the women look on the shows is how girls want to be and look like (http://www. dailyherald. com). Cast members may be their selves but the things they do are scripted by producers that get teenagers attention.

The drama, relationships, partying, and glamorous lifestyle that they portray is entertaining. Reality TV shows expose bad behavior, which make viewers think that what they see is acceptable. In reality, it’s a false reality. Keeping up with the Kardashians, Bad Girls Club, The Real Housewives: The Series, Teen Mom, and Jersey Shore are the main reality TV shows that teens are watching. Most young viewers prefer to watch reality TV shows like those. Each of these shows portrays something which is unrealistic and unaccepted, but audiences don’t realize the impact of these shows (http://www. deseretnews. com).

Reality TV is not exactly just real life on camera. Although there are some shows that are more realistic than others, all of them are edited. Scenes are shot over and over for better effect. The shows are edited to make them more interesting and exciting. When viewers watch this sort of show, they believe that reality is filled with conflict and other negative events. The viewer may see exciting things happening to people in these shows and compare those things that are happening to their “normal” lives. Viewers often make a connection with the actors on screen, and then decide to act as the people they admire.

The producers of these shows don’t care how they affect or impact on a person’s life. They try to make these shows look real as possible, even though they are scripted. They shoot scenes over and over until they are satisfied. Reality TV show producers are motivated by money and attention-grabbing drama. They fire cast members who don’t appeal to the audience as well as others. In result, they plot scenarios that will result in over-the-top arguments. “Bad Girls Club” is a perfect example of this. There is a house with seven girls who don’t know each other and they see what happens.

The cast members usually have many arguments and fights. After the fight the girl who threw the first punch gets sent home. They are mostly the girls who do not appeal to the audience. The shows exhibit all the qualities that entertain young girls, and also those that can easily influence them. Young girls tend to think that what they see on TV is how their relationships and lives should be. Reality TV shows give a false image of reality. The people watching them are thinking that everything happening in the show is real. Reality shows show real people and how they react to different situations.

Many people are fascinated with watching how people react to different environments and different people. It is unpredictable and surprising. Every episode people are tuned in and curious as to what is going to happen next, which keeps them watching week after week. They only show the glamour and success, but not the hard work and sacrifice that is put into achieving all of it. Most adults are able to distinguish reality from fantasy, however most teenagers are incapable of doing so. Reality TV is like passing a car wreck on the highway- we have to look.

Reality television has come to dominate the television industry. There are educational reality shows and noneducational reality shows. They both have their entertainment values. The difference? One is productive television, and one is counterproductive. There is good and bad in everything, and everything is good in moderation, but counterproductive TV is taking over productive TV.

The time slots to watch educational reality shows are generally later in the evening. It is almost as if TV is trying to “dumb down” America.

Non-educational Reality Television “Noneducational” reality TV includes shows like Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Teen Pregnancy, and My Sweet Sixteen. These prime time shows target youth, but they do not teach lessons. In fact, they do the opposite, since many young people think it okay to emulate these reality show stars.

All these shows are scripted. For instance, Jersey Shore is actually filmed on a set 80% of the time. Yet these shows are passed off as reality. These shows promote drinking and heavy sexual content. Nonetheless they air in the time slot that targets youth. Kids seem to be growing up faster than just 20 years ago; perhaps disrespect and aggression can be blamed on the influence of the shows they are watching.

Instead of fighting and being rude to each other, it would be nice if the characters in these shows could, for example, reflect how ten ordinary people come into a house and work together to make the quality of life better for everyone. They could show the reality of working together to pay the bills and keep food on the table. They could teach how to step in when something bad happens to someone else and help them get back on their feet in one way or another.

Instead they have gone in the direction of survival of the fittest. Is this really the image that should be shown and taught to our future leaders? If where America has been heading in the past 20 years, it is apparent that survival of the fittest is not working. Perhaps if prime time television were to promote working together, it might help ensure a productive future.

Educational Reality Television Reality TV does have positive things to offer. Some educational reality shows are Dirty Jobs, Cake Boss, and Do You know Who You Are. These types of shows depict the reality of America. They show what truly makes America run, and teach true morals and genuine respect towards others.

True, these shows are scripted as well, but they are geared toward education and not violence, or the promotion of teen pregnancy, and spousal abuse. These shows do not promote alcohol abuse or speculate who is having sex with whom. However, these shows are targeted toward adults, as they are on at a later time slot, and much of our youth is not interested in watching real life.

Prime Time Television Prime time television is aiming for ratings rather than the promotion of morals. But I think they could produce productive TV and get better ratings. Viewers must take some responsibility, though, since we can control what our kids watch. If most people ban shows that deliver negative messages from our homes, ratings will plummet and I would imagine TV executives would completely restructure their programming very quickly.

Running ahead: Is reality television negative Reality television has gone negative in the most apart. Take shows like “Jersey Shore”. This show by its self shows how to be ignorat, loud, don’t care about anything but partying. Do we really want our children to act like this? We have these people from Jersey showing us what that they can be loud and do whatever with no consequence.

It’s unbelievable that we let people get on TV and do absolute nothing. We see how not to act but they are getting what $100,000 just to be at a club.Seriously, people come on this isn’t something that we should be encourging. This is one of many shows that show us that todays’ society doesn’t have morals like they use to. Today’s shows have so much violence, sex, drugs, and use of derogatory language. Then, we go into the way African-American women are proceeded to be evil, loud, with no respect for anyone. The Apprentice, Omaroseonee Manigault-Stallworth stated “These shows are constructed.

They don’t happen, nor do they portray actual reality. They are constructed reality. “Historically, African-Americans have been portrayed negatively on reality television. We don’t come across well. You’ve got to start looking and saying, ‘Is that really how all African-Americans are? ‘ Because they are trying to say that this is representative of our people. ” She clearly states that African-American’s are just being used to show that we are ignorant and show what Martin Luther King Jr. was fighting for.

For what we wanted to people to see that we’re not people that just don’t have any morals. Why are we feeding into something like that?Is it because that’s what and how we are? No, because just like any other race there are some those wish to act if “momma” didn’t show them what to do and what not to do. We’re not in the1960’s trying to fight for our place in the United States. Yes, there are some people that can use or don’t wish to use God giving sense. But do we have to have it shown on television that people do act like that as if it is right. I don’t want my children to believe that it’s ok to act as if they don’t have education or morals. So many of these reality shows or what seems to be reality show is scripted.

The topic of my paper that I chose to write about is Values portrayed on Reality Television shows.

This happens to be a subject of interest for me because I have children and I am concerned about what they learn and get out of the shows that are currently airing on television. At this time I choose to monitor what my children watch because there is so much out there that I think is inappropriate on television now.As I get more of my research done I know my paper will get narrowed down even further because this topic is of a big interest to me and I want to read as much as I can from different standpoints and opinions. From my research I would like to cover some of the different shows that I think have the most recognized names in the television world for being provocative and distasteful. I would like to show my view point as well as cite some articles that I found on this topic. I will limit my topic to focusing on the morals and values these shows lack for our children as well of anyone else that is watching these shows.For instance these reality shows such as Maury and Jerry Springer I do not let my daughter watch because I do not want to condone those types of lifestyles.

My daughter is in her teens and I want her to have good morals and values going into adulthood. I intend to argue whether reality television has any morals or values in my research paper or if we can get anything beneficial from watching reality television. Reality shows to some people can be funny to watch, but what messages do these shows convey to our children if we allow them to indulge?I did not have the best life growing up but at the same time I would like my children to have morals and values. The older I get the more I realize how important it is to instill morals in your children so that they may pass those same morals on to their children. So with that being said, where do we draw the line with the reality shows and what we want our children to get out of watching these shows that can apply to what we want them to have for our values and morals? In my research paper I plan to cover these issues and argue the issues at the same time.